New years eve at Selfjordhytta

Andreas had no plans so we decided to go to Selfjorden. I was working until 12 and then I went home to pack my stuff. We got some supplies at Rema 1000 and then we headed to the cabin. There was no one else. We started the fire to get some heat in there. We had tacos and red wine, this was so nice to welcome the new year in the cabin surrounded by great peaks of Flakstad. Tomorrow we intend to start early...

The cabin.

Making fire. Photo: Andreas

Andreas.

Don't you just love sparklers!

Blåtinden

 

 

 

Sunday and we went to Blåtinden in Slydalen. Actually there are many peaks here with the same name but this peak was 604 m and located in Vestvågøy. Tomorrow after work I'm going to Lofoten Tindeklub in Kabelvåg to climb with Andreas and Martin!

Ballstadheia

Today I went to my "home mountain" Ballstadheia and Nonstinden (459 m). I had to put my spikes on for the last part because there was some ice. I wrote my name in the summitbook and then I literally danced down the mountain. I can't explain why but I'm so filled with all this good energy and I feel so vibrant. The music makes me wanna dance, the air is so fresh and I just love to be here. I am so grateful to live in this beautiful kingdom of islands. I can't wait to go on my next adventure!

I Wonder Why - Dion & the Belmonts

The gift of a day

Frost playing around.

Time for spikes.

We are next to Kvalvika.

View is getting fabulous.

Gyda and me.

Summit of Ryten.

The weather was not that fabulous when going down, lots of rain and wind but anyhow I am grateful for another magic day in the worlds most beautiful kingdom of islands!

The gift of having friends

Loving friends...

Unstad.

Marcela.

On our way to Eggum.

Me and Marcela took a walk from Unstad to Eggum and back.

"Every thought we think is creating our future", Louise Hay

Mithra is the reason for the season

Local writer from Leknes

Glögg (mulled and spiced wine)

Ballstadøya 10 am.

Ballstadøya, taken from the other side

I'm not celebrating christmas but only the winter solstice. The winter solstice is the time of year when the sun is at its lowest noontime, which coincides with the shortest day. This occurs when the Earth's rotation axis is tilted most away from the sun. I also read this unbearably exciting book which unfolds here in Reine and Vindstad. In three days. Now I want to go to Vindstad even more than before so I have a plan for weekend two next year. The ferry only leaves every second week so one must plan. This saturday I went to Ostad to look for some more urban art but took a wrong turn, found a new interesting gravel road / path and ended up in Steinfjord. Sunday I also went to hike on my own on the other side of Kraemmervika, since everyone is so busy with doing these christmas things....

Happy Winter Solstice - Embrace the Light

Himmel og Havn

Tonight I went to see this movie in Leknes. Some guys were talking about their skiing-surfing-climbing-experiences before the movie. I had two beers, actually met few people I knew and then cycled home.

Helt konge!

Today after work I went straight to Leknes for some shopping at Kittys Helsekost, Asian Market and some more vegetables at Coop. When I came home I had a christmas package in my letterbox! It was from Rebecca, that's so sweet! I made saffron buns and then light up the new incense that I bought which is called Kongerøkelse and it has an absolutely fabulous spicy aroma which is now spreading in my apartment!

 

Svolvær

Now I have officially moved to Norway! Today I finished work 2 hours earlier, then me and Gyda went to Svolvær. I had to visit the tax authority before 3 pm to leave my notification of immigration to Norway. I thought it would be enough just to notify the swedish tax authority that I'm moving to Norway but...You must report to an ID office in person and inform them of your relocation to Norway. You must state your residential address, bring your passport and a copy of your employment contract. All this went very well and so we went to Skandinavisk Høyfjellsutstyr. Gyda was buying skins for skis and I was looking at some Scarpa shoes but they didn't have my size. Then we went to some other places and when finished we went to cozy Bacalao for some food before going back to Gravdal.

Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

Ytre Skjelfjorden

Finally me and Gunnar managed to go on our reconnaissance trip for the upcoming winter project. Today I brought crampons and one of my axes (unfortunately I realized that my alpine axe is still in Sweden...) but we managed anyway. There was A LOT of ice, I didn't expect this and we should have brought helmets because there was a small rockslide. It was a beautiful clear day and the light was also magic. We went up to almost 600 m where we had quite a good view over the first part anyway. We had our packed lunch and then we descended because it would soon be dark.

 

 

 

I Wonder Why - Dion & The Belmonts

Back to Chicken valley...

Today I woke up really late I think it was 9.30 am already. But since weather forecast this weekend was SUPERGREAT; just a small breeze, no rain or snow and the sky was crystal clear...which means I really have to go out! So I packed my stuff and went to Chicken valley and then into the Deep valley where I intended to look for an alternative route to Skottinden, I've been told there is one and I followed a path and then I lost it and headed just straight up because I saw something very interesting! There was ice on this side but it was a long way up. Now I was almost in the middle between Skottinden and Breitinden so I thought I might try Breitinden but close to a 100 meter from summit it was getting really steep, the snow was hard and I had only my spikes, not crampons and not even my alpine axe. That made me feel a bit unsecure so I decided to go back down the same way.

Heading for Chicken Valley

House falling apart...

This is where I lost the trail...

Getting higher...

Looking down.

Can you se the possible mix route?

The ridge.

Bålkos! (Cozy by the fire).

Who Wrote The Book of Love - The Monotones

Julebord

Today after work it was time for Julebord for all the hospital staff. Beate picked me up and we went to Heidi for a glass of wine before the event. That was nice. But norwegian julebord (could be translated like a christmas smorgasbord) is not for me. A lot of meat + red cabbage, sauerkraut and something I think was called "kålstappe". I was told it's turnip cabbage with mashed potatoes. That might be good but I never tried it because they just ran out. But a big rose to the chef who got me soya sausage and some vegetables. It was quite fun but if I could have walked home I would have left much earlier. But Beate had so much fun and we were the last (only 4 of my colleagues came!) Then her daughter came and picked us up so it was almost 2 am when I got home....

Gone climbing...

 

I have decorated my writing office with two pictures from Bohuslän so that I will feel more at home when I am here every second week! I'll find something for my other office as well. After work I went to Gyda for a cup of tea and then me and Andreas went to Lekneshallen again! For some climbing, minor routechange and just pure fun! It was snowing a lot when I went home from Gravdal and my heart was filled with joy, hope and lots of energy. The sky was all clear, stars were sparkling, the air was cool and crisp and the contours of the mountain were sharp. This is the place where I wanna be...

Den Druckne Matrosens Sång - Thåström
(This one's for you Mike, with a twinkle in the eye...)